Last week, I pointed you out to an experiment at Infusions of Grandeur which included a coffee-infused vodka. Though the coffee vodka didn't get the best reaction when taken straight, we've given it another chance by mixing it into a cocktail, to much greater success. Our latest entry shows the test and the drink.

You can follow our experiments here on LJ at vodka_infusions.

Hi folks! I'm Brendan, one of the scienticians of Infusions of Grandeur, a blog of vodka infusions and mad science. We're syndicated on LiveJournal at vodka_infusions. Cocoajava suggested that I come here and mention one of our latest experiments: coffee-infused vodka.

You can read about the creation of the coffee vodka, and the results and sampling. The infusion, tested in its pure form (a shot), was not the success we hoped for, though other circumstances contributed, as you will see in the results. We will be testing it later this week in a cocktail, and will keep you informed.

i made dark roast gevalia coffee and stirred in bailey's irish cream ice cream...

just sharing. :-D

I had no idea this stuff even existed! Wow. I have yet to try it, though.

( photo )

I normally don't watch the Food Network in the evenings, but for some reason I had it on today and there was a show devoted to CHOCOLATE! The show was called "Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee" and she made the following:

Mixed Fruit and Spring Greens with White Chocolate-Orange Vinaigrette
Cherry Almond Rice Mexicana (made with semisweet chocolate)
Grilled New York Strip with Chocolate Merlot Sauce
Chocolate Almond Fondue
White Chocolate Covered Cherry Martini

It made me sooo hungry! I'm definitely going to try at least a few of these!

I figure you people will appreciate this, but I gotta tell ya, it's got a hell of a kick, way more than commerical Kahlua.

Homegrown Coffee Liqueur

6 cups sugar
2 quarts water, divided
2 ounces instant coffee
2 ounces pure vanilla
1 quart 190 proof grain alcohol

Dissolve sugar in 1 quart boiling water and set aside to cool. Dissolve coffee in 1 quart boiling water and set aside to cool. Pour into gallon jar; add vanilla and grain alcohol. Set aside for 5 minutes. Pour into fifth bottles. Makes 5 fifths.

The word for today is beer. You can put beer in chocolate and chocolate in beer and coffee in beer although I wouldn't recommend putting beer in coffee. There's always Mocha beer if you're really brave.

Alternatively there's always chocolate beer cake, beer brownies, coffee beer cake or beer spice cake which doesn't really count but you can always put mocha frosting on it.